Spring 2009 Volume 30, Number 2

Author and illustrator Jeanette Winter will be pre-sented with the 2009 Kerlan Award at a ceremony in Andersen Library on Saturday, April 25, 2009.

Chaired by Jean Steven-son, the Award Commit-tee selected Winter in recognition of her contri-butions to children’s lit-erature as a field, and her donations of materials to the Kerlan Collection.

The Kerlan Friends will host a lunch buffet, by

registration, at noon. The ceremony, which is free

and open to the public, will begin at 1 p.m.

Born in Chicago in 1939, Jeanette Winter has written many self-illustrated titles that have been praised for their text, but the most notable aspect of her work, many critics say, is her distinctive painting style. Win-ter has written and illustrated several child-friendly biographies of artists and authors, including people such as Mexican muralist Diego Rivera and Baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach.

Recently, she donated a number of titles to the

Kerlan Collection to be archived in preparation for the Kerlan Award. Eight boxes arrived at the Children’s Literature Research Collections, containing artwork and manuscript materials for Angelina’s Island; Cowboy Charlie; Mama: A True Story, in which a baby hippo loses his mama during a tsunami, but finds a new home, and a new mama; My Name is Georgia; The Story of Hildegarde; The Tale of Pale Male and Wangari’s Trees of Peace. These materials join the dozens of titles that Winter has previously donated to the collection.

The Kerlan Collection and Friends invite you to the festivities on April 25th, and encourage you to visit the collections to see materials firsthand.

To discover what origi-nal materials by Jeanette Winter are held in the Kerlan Collection, or to view finding aids for other authors and illustra-tors, please visit us on the web at http://special.lib.umn.edu/clrc/ and view our online finding aids.

2009 Kerlan Award

Registration and reservation information is on page 7 of the newsletter. Please send registration forms for Kerlan Award Luncheon and Ceremony to be postmarked by April 8th, 2008. RSVPs to attend only the ceremony are

appreciated at any time by contacting us at clrc@umn.edu.

Author & Illustrator Jeanette Winter

My Name is Georgia, Silver Whistle, 1998.

The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity employer and educator. To receive this information in alternative formats, or for disability accommoda-

tions, contact the CLRC at clrc@umn.edu or 612-624-4576.

FROM THE KERLAN FRIENDS CO-PRESIDENTS CONTENTSKerlan Award . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 From the KF President. . . . . 2Kerlan Gems . . . . . . . . . . . 3Recent Acquisitions . . . . . . 4CLRC at the Tweed. . . . . . . . . . . 5Ask the Staff . . . . . . 5Upcoming at the CLRC. . . . . 6In Memoriam . . . . . . . . . . . 6Kerlan Award Registration. . . .7Save the Date . . . . . 8

Dear Kerlan Friends,

In our roles as co-presidents of the Kerlan Friends Board, we are incessantly telling the unaware about the treasure trove we sup-port, stored eight stories underground along the Mississippi River on the University of Minnesota’s West Bank. The Kerlan Collection is a blend of manuscripts, correspondence, notes, artwork, and books amassed in a climate-controlled environment, but for most patrons, its magic goes far beyond the physical space and materials. As Jane Resh Thomas wrote in her 2001 Kerlan Award Speech, the Kerlan Collection “institutionally takes children’s literature seriously, as works of art worthy of preservation and study. Doing so, it encourages artists who make children’s books.”* Not only artists are inspired by the collection’s holdings. Lovers of children’s literature, librarians, teachers, and students have experienced the awe of sitting before an open file or box and feeling the wonder of creation as they retrace an artist’s steps in the formation of a book.

Recently, Julie spent a day absorbed in notes, correspondence, manuscripts, and artwork, immersed in the marvels of works crafted by artists like Louis Slobodkin, Karen Hesse, Don Freeman, Karen Cushman, Nikki Grimes, Joyce Sidman, Lau-ren Stringer, Betsy Bowen, Lise Lunge-Larsen, Kate DiCamillo, and Wanda Gág. Ninety fortunate attendees of the International Reading Association’s convention will explore holdings from these artists and several others when they attend a pre-confer-ence tour on May 3, 2009, at Andersen Library. The tour-goers will delve into the manuscript and artwork files to discover things like • Louis Slobodkin’s hand-made dummy of The Hundred Dresses• Karen Hesse’s short story version of Out of the Dust• Corduroy in various colors and stages of development• Catherine’s development as a character in Catherine, Called Birdy• Prose and poetry versions of Talkin’ About Bessie• Joyce Sidman’s versions of poems for Song of the Water Boatman• Lauren Stringer’s thoughtful process in creating artwork for Our Family Tree• Betsy Bowen’s & Lise Lunge-Larsen’s collaboration for The Troll With No Heart in Its Body• Kate DiCamillo’s first and subsequent drafts of The Tale of Despereaux• Numerous cover versions and artwork from Millions of Cats

Opportunities to share the history of the Kerlan Collection and its extraordinary holdings can be large, as in the case of the IRA Tour, or small, like when a teacher or librarian invites a friend to investigate an artist’s work. We hope all Kerlan Friends will take time to examine materials at Andersen Library. Send us a note about what you discover (to clrc@umn.edu) and we will share stories about the treasures with other Friends.

*The entire speech can be read in The Kerlan Awards in Children’s Literature 1975-2001, Ruth Berman, editor. It is available for purchase from the Children’s Literature Research Collection. — Julie Reimer & Steve Palmquist, Presidents, Kerlan Friends

The Children’s Literature Research Collection’s Kerlan Collection is an inter-nationally recognized center of research in the field of children’s literature. The Collec-tion contains original materials, including manuscripts, artwork, galleys, and color proofs for more than 18,000 children’s books. These materials represent eight decades of American children’s books and selected titles published in other countries. The Kerlan Collection also includes more than 110,000 children’s books.

This Spring 2009 Newsletter is co-spon-sored by the Kerlan Friends and the CLRC.

Editor: Karen Nelson HoyleProduction Editor: Meredith J. GilliesCopy Editor: Linda BergerPhotographers: Karen Nelson HoyleContributors: Meredith Gillies, Karen Nel-son Hoyle, Julie Reimer, Jean Stevenson

Children’s Literature Research CollectionsUniversity of Minnesota113 Andersen Library222 - 21st Avenue SouthMinneapolis, MN 55455T: 612-624-4576; F: 612-626-0377E-mail: clrc@umn.eduhttp://special.lib.umn.edu/clrc/

Christine AlfanoSusan Carr BrownMaggie CordsKim FaurotDavid GeisterMargaret HallKaren Hoyle -Ex OfficioMaythee Kantar

Robert NistlerIsabell Monk O’ConnorSteve PalmquistLisa Westberg PetersJulie ReimerJoyce SidmanKathy SmolaJean Stevenson

2008-2009 KERLAN FRIENDS BOARD MEMBERS

© 2009 by the Regents of the University of Minnesota.2

Members of the Kerlan Friends Board

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Kerlan Collection Gems: Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Betsy LewinBetsy Lewin’s crazy cows and crafty farm animals have captivated readers since the release of Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, a 2003 Caldecott Honor Book written by Doreen Cronin. The characters have con-tinued to try Farmer Brown’s patience in several other stories, demonstrating wit and wisdom beyond the fences and fields of the barnyard. The Kerlan Collec-tion is home to 27 ink studies and 21 page proofs from Betsy’s artwork on the book. Follow her pen through the decisions about placement and perspective. Com-pare the drafts to the page proofs and the final copy in book form. Imagine her creativity stepping beyond the pen to add the watercolors.

Betsy Lewin grew up surrounded by farms in Clearfield, Pennsylvania. Though she and author Do-reen Cronin did not meet until after the release of the book, they have collaborated on the other farmyard

books, includ-ing their latest title Thump, Quack, Moo: A Whacky Adventure.

If you would like to view the ink studies and page proofs for this Caldecott Honor Book, request MC 1714 from the CLRC prior to your visit. For ad-ditional information about the artist, visit her website at http://www.betsylewin.com and see an interview with her at http://www.readingrockets.org/books/in-terviews/lewin. — Julie Reimer

A study from Click, Clack, Moo.

The 2009 schedule features more than 35 workshops and retreats taught by eminent practicing artists and writers. With a wide range of topics, Split Rock work-shops serve artists of all interests, backgrounds, and skill levels, and allow for significant one-to-one contact between participant and instructor.

The following workshops relate to children’s books, and classes may visit the CLRC:

June 14–19 / Stories Into Pictures: Children’s Book Il-lustration / Eric Rohmann

June 14–19 / Tales From the Truth: Writing Biography for Children / Candace Fleming

July 12–17 / Drawing on Resources: Research and Fieldwork for Illustration / Daniel Powers

Online and print catalogs with workshop descriptionsavailable in February with registration open late Feb-ruary 2009, the scholarship deadline is May 4 2009. There are no prerequisites for these classes.

For more information visit: www.cce.umn.edu/spli-trockarts or call 612-625-8100 for a catalog.

Split Rock Arts Program Summer Workshops - June and July 2009

Loving the Lyric Line: A Children’s Poet Talks About a Lifelong Love Affair with Poetry”Author Jane Yolen will be giving a free public talk entitled “Loving the Lyric Line: A Children’s Poet Talks

About a Lifelong Love Affair with Poetry” on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. at the Children’s Literature Research Collections, 120 Elmer Andersen Library.

Yolen is the author of more than 300 children’s and young adult books and a donor of manu-scripts to the Kerlan Collection. She received the Kerlan Award in 1988 for her generous do-nations. Red Balloon will sell books that Yolen will autograph personally following her talk.

For more information, call 612-624-4576 or email clrc@umn.eduJane Yolen

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RECENT ACQUISITIONS

These materials have been donated by the creators, their families, or third parties. Titles of recent acquisi-tions are not listed if previously reported in a newslet-ter.

Key: MS — manuscripts, IL — illustrations; published titles are indicated by italics.

Jeannette Eyerly, MS: Disaster Dog (Donated by Jane Ko-zuszek)

Ingrid Fetz, IL: Bear Seeds; Before You Were A Baby; The Boy Who Lived in the Railroad Depot; Kate and the Wild Kittens; Now You Are 7; Now You Are 8; Shoots of Green; Stringbean Goes to the Store; Stringbean’s House; The Valen-tine Box (Donated by Jennifer Hill)

Johanna Hurwitz, MS : Mighty Monty

Barbara Joosse, MS: Love is a Good Thing to Feel; In the Night Garden

Howard Knotts, IL: Punch’s Secret (Donated by Nancy Wil-lard)

George Laycock, MS: Bats in the Night; People and Other Mammals; Strange Monsters and Great Searches; The World’s Endangered Wildlife

Mildred Lee, MS: Honor Sands (Donated by Barbara Du-Lac)

Bridget Levine, IL: Rules of the Wild

Betsy Lewin, IL: Cowgirl Kate and Coco: Rain or Shine; Cowgirl Kate and Coco: School Days; Heatwave

Ted Lewin, IL: Market!; Pennies in a Jar; The World’s Greatest Elephant

Claudia Mills, MS: The Totally Made-Up Civil War Diary of Amanda MacLeish

Emily Arnold McCully, IL: Cat Jumped In

Donna Jo Napoli, MS: Outside the Walls

Joyce Sidman, MS: This is Just to Say

David Stemple, MS: High Ridge Gobbler

Ilse-Margaret Vogel, IL: 1 Is No Fun, but 20 is Plenty!; 3 im-ages from unknown title. (Donated by Nancy Willard)

Lisl Weil, IL/MS: 4 Erlei Wohnen; A Big Box With Many Drawers; A Child’s History of America; A Golden Box with Many Drawers; About the Animals; Art Expenses Book Earnings; Berannte vom Theater; Berkshire Week; Book Re-views; Boutique Fantasque; Carrousel Art; Coloron Overlay Templates; die Buhne; Dudley the Elephant; Ein Madchen Gentschwim; Fuhrer Durch pas “Wienerische”; Happy House Pets; Inventory Notebook; Jennifer’s Journey; King Romolo & the Mocking Birds; Lenox Material; Little Nobody; Me and My Sister; Misc. German Art; Misc. Sketchbook; Monkey Shine & Rabbit Stew; Nur Fur Schwimmer; Original Uniden-tified Artwork; Pamela’s Special Uncle; Payments Received Notebook; Play with words and pictures; Salzleammer Gut Estanzl; Super Rat; Texas Nursery Rimes by Ross Elemen-tary; The Picnic; The Story of the Wise Men & The Child; The Summer Cat; Theater: Old Vienna; Tony for Keeps; Trip to Beverly Hills School; Unidentified German Titles: 1 – 5; Unidentified Working Manuscripts; Weston Woods Studios; What A Fine Day Said the Rabbit; Why Do I Feel That Way? (Donated by George Medina)

Jeanette Winter, IL/MS: Angelina’s Island; Cowboy Charlie; Mama; My Name is Georgia; The Story of Hildegarde; The Tale of Pale Male; Wangari’s Trees of Peace

Virginia Wolff, MS: The Mozart Season; Probably Still Nick Swanson

Jane Yolen, MS: All Those Secrets of the World; Animal Train; Baby Bear’s Big Dreams; Baby Bear’s Books; Baby Bear’s Chairs; The Ballad of the Pirate Queens; The Barefoot Book of Ballet Stories; Commander Toad and the Black Hole; Commander Toad and the Dis-Asteriod; Commander Toad and the Planet of the Grapes; Commander Toad and the Space Pirates; Commander Toad and the Voyage Home; Fine Feathered Friends; The Firebird; The Flying Witch; Here There Be Angels; Here’s A Little Poem; The Wild Hunt; Wild Wings

The Totally Made-Up Civil War Diary of Amanda Macleish, 2008

Exerpts from Report on the Chancellor’s Small Grant: CLRC at the TweedI knew I had the unique op-portunity to introduce children to illustrator and author Wanda Gág when I learned that Peter Spooner, Curator at the Tweed Gallery at University of Minneso-ta Duluth, was mounting a show of her works, “Draw to Live and Live to Draw,” and that the Ker-

lan Collection of the Children’s Literature Research Collec-tions was loaning some of Gág’s original manuscripts to the Tweed for the show, all of the stars seemed to be aligned. I was supervising a student teacher at Lowell Magnet School, and the principal and other teachers were excited about the prospect of conducting an author/illustrator study.

Beginning in October of 2008, four classes of second graders from Lowell Magnet School immersed themselves in Wanda Gág’s life, stories, illustrations, and creative processes. They became familiar with and analyzed the structure of her stories,

the characters, the settings, and her artistic style. They cre-ated a timeline of Wanda Gág’s life and located the places she lived on a map. One of the many tools they used during this process was the Millions of Cats teaching portfolio from the Kerlan Collection.

To celebrate the culmination of their study of Wanda Gág, the children visited the show at the Tweed Gallery. They were welcomed by the Tweed staff, and the children were reluctant to leave the gallery when their buses arrived to take them back to Lowell.

This project is an example of the transformative power of literature and art. It was the result of a multifaceted collabora-tion involving elementary school teachers and children, the Kerlan Collection, and multiple aspects from University of Minnesota Duluth, including the College of Education and Human Service Professions, Tweed Gallery, and the College of Fine Arts. It was a privilege to be a part of it.

- Dr. Jean Stevenson

A student works on art as inspired by the exhibit at the Tweed and Millions of Cats.

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Students get interactive with the exhibit at the Tweed Gallery.

Question: What *IS* the CLRC?

Answer: Good question! The Children’s Literature Research Collections, or CLRC, is an internationally recognized re-source in the field of children’s literature, containing seven core collections and several smaller collections. We house the Kerlan Collection of Children’s Literature, the Hess Collection of Popular Literature, the Borger Comic Book Collection, and many, many more. Whether you’re looking for manuscript drafts, dime novels, rare books, comics, or memorabilia, we have something that will amaze. Learn more about our collections at http://special.lib.umn.edu/clrc

Question: Can just anyone walk in and see the books?Answer: We are open to the public Monday – Friday, and anyone can stop by! However, we are not set up like a public library. There are no bookshelves to browse. Let us know what you want to see, and we will be happy to bring it up from the archive. Please be aware that retrieval from the archive can take anywhere from 15-30 minutes. Due to the fragile nature of the collections, all children under sixteen must be accompanied by an adult.

Question: Where are you located, and where can I park? Answer: The Children’s Literature Research Collections is located in 113 Elmer L. Andersen Library, on the West Bank Campus of the University of Minnesota. The University campus is approximately one mile from downtown Minneapolis and eight miles from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. We suggest visiting http://special.lib.umn.edu/swha/parking.pdf for detailed parking and driving directions. Many MetroTransit bus lines stop nearby on Washington Avenue, visit the MetroTransit website at http://www.metrotransit.org/ for details.

The Staff Answers: Three Frequently Asked Questions about the Kerlan Collection

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Fleming & Rohmann - 18 JuneCaldecott Award winner Eric Rohmann and author Candace Fleming will present on Thursday, June 18, from 2 to 3 p.m. in 120 Elmer Andersen Library. Rohmann’s books include My Friend Rabbit and A Kitten Tale, and Fleming’s books include Muncha Muncha and Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary. The event is free and open to the public, co-sponsored by Split Rock Arts Program.

Kerlan Friends Annual Meeting - 18 JuneThe Kerlan Friends will hold their annual meeting on June 18, at 3:00 p.m. in 120 Andersen Library, immedi-ately following the event with Eric Rohmann and Candace Fleming. We invite all Kerlan Friends to attend both events, and spend an afternoon with us at the Children’s Literature Research Collections.

Claudia Mills - 17 JulyColorado author and Kerlan Collection donor Claudia Mills will speak on Friday, July 17 at 10 a.m. at the Children’s Literature Research Collections in 120 Elmer Andersen Library. Manuscripts for many of her books at the Kerlan include Being Teddy Roosevelt; Gus and Grandpa Go Fishing and Makeover by Marcia. The event is free and open to the public. Red Balloon Bookshop will sell her books for autograph following the talk.

10th Annual Celebration of Minnesota Children’s Authors and Illustrators - 12 SeptemberHosted by the Anderson Center in Red Wing, MN, from 12:30-5 p.m., the CLRC will be exhibiting materials to match this year’s featured speakers. This is a wonderful free event for children and families, where you can meet some of Minnesota’s finest authors and illustrators. Book sales and signings, readings, slide presentations, story telling, marble playing, book making, magic, face painting, balloons, ice cream, puppets, stilts, creative activities and more await.

REFLECTIONS: A Poetry and Illustration Competition - 20 March – 3 MayReflections is a juried exhibition of illustrations inspired by the work of five award-winning poets. Also in-cluded in the exhibition are process materials from the University of Minnesota’s Kerlan Collection – one of the world’s great children’s literature research collections. Associated programming includes An Introduction to the Kerlan Collection on Tuesday, April 7, at 7 p.m., which is free and open to the public. All events for Reflec-tions are held at Minnesota Center for Book Arts, located at the Open Book in downtown Minneapolis. For more information, visit http://www.mnbookarts.org/events/currentMCBAexhibits.html.

IN MEMORIAM

Blair Lent, a children’s book author and award-winning artist, whose detailed work illustrated beloved books like Tikki Tikki Tembo and Why the Sun and the Moon Live in the Sky died January 27 in Medford, Massachusetts of pneumonia. He was 80 and lived in Cambridge.

Using a broad variety of techniques, including cardboard cutouts, colored pencil, acrylic painting, and ink and wash, he provided the images for tales from Japan, Russia, India, and Africa. His illustrations for The Funny Little Woman, a Japanese folk tale retold by Arlene Mosel, won the Caldecott Medal in 1973.

Mr. Lent was born in Boston and earned an art degree from the Boston Museum School in 1953. Most of his art-work was donated to the Kerlan Collection at the University of Minnesota and the Mazza Museum at the Univer-sity of Findlay, in Findlay, Ohio.

Upcoming from the Children’s Literature Research Collections

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KERLAN AWARD CEREMONY

Kerlan Award Registration Form (also available online at http://special.lib.umn.edu/clrc/2009KerlanAward.php )Please choose one of the registration options below and mail this form and checks to: CLRC-Kerlan Award, 113 Andersen Library, 222 - 21st Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55455. Please make all checks payable to the University of Minnesota. The deadline for registering is April 8th, 2008.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1. Kerlan Award Ceremony _____ Chair at Award Presentation (Free) _____ Presentation with Buffet Lunch: _____ Kerlan Friend Member $15 _____ Non-member $20 subtotal____________ 2. Become a new Kerlan Friend Member **Include a separate check and write “New-3411” on the memo line** ______ Please send me the newsletter electronically, rather than on paper. My email address is below. _____ New Member $25 Total Amount Enclosed __________Name:_________________________________________________________________________________________Address:_________________________________________________________________________________________Phone: Email:____________________________________ _________________________________________ Guest Name(s):_________________________________________________________________________________________

A map of parking options is available at http://www1.umn.edu/twincities/maps/EALib/index.html. We also recommend parking in the municipal lot next to the Holiday Inn on Washington Avenue.

Kerlan Award LuncheonSaturday, April 25, 2009 12 - 1 p.m.Elmer L. Andersen Library, Atrium and Room 120

Enjoy a buffet lunch with other Kerlan Friends, teachers, librarians, children’s literature aficionados, and our esteemed guests. Books will also be available on site for purchase from Red Balloon Bookshop. Original art and manu-scripts by Jeanette Winter will be on display.

Cost: $20 ($15 for Kerlan Friends)

Saturday, April 25, 2009 1-3 p.m.Willey Hall 125

University of Minnesota, West BankThe climax of this day is the Kerlan Award Ceremony. The awards are presented and

Jeanette Winter will make remarks.Cost: Free and Open to the Public

Art from Day of the Dead, by Tony Johnson. Harcourt, 1997

SAVE THE DATE Nonprofit Org.U.S. PostagePAIDMinneapolis, MNPermit Number 155

Children’s Literature Research Collections612-624-4576 Fax: 612-626-0377113 Elmer L. Andersen Library222 - 21st Avenue SouthMinneapolis, MN 55455

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

SPOTLIGHT ON BOOKS CONFERENCE -- 3 & 4 April 2009This year, the 21st Annual Spotlight on Books Conference, “Keep them Reading,” will be held at Ruttger’s Sugar Lake Lodge, and will feature four of Minnesota’s finest authors: John Coy, Marsha Chall, Lynne Jonell, and David LaRochelle.

Beginning with a Friday afternoon workshop, John Coy will address ways to keep kids, particularly boys, reading from the elementary years to the teen years. On Friday evening, join our featured authors for an evening of fun, exploration, drama, and recreation as they reveal another side of their talents in a Minnesota Readers’ Theater based on their work. On Satur-day, each of the featured authors will talk about their work and how books and reading enrich the lives of young people. The authors’ books will be available for purchase and signing. You will also have ample time to check out the special topic book displays and to visit with the authors and others in attendance about books and reading.

For more information about the Conference and the authors, go to http://nlln.org/spotlight.html or call the Northern Lights Library Network at 1-800-450-1032.

Naomi C. Chase Lecture — 7 May 2009The Annual Chase Lecture will be held on Thursday, May 7, 2009 from 4:30 until 6:30 p.m. in 120 Andersen Library. Caldecott Medal winner Chris Raschka will deliver the lecture, “Illustrator Bites Dog: Turning Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf into a Picturebook.” The lecture will be followed by a reception and autographing. This annual event is co-sponsored by the College of Education and Hu-man Development, Department of Curriculum & Instruction and the Children’s Literature Research Collections/Kerlan Collection, University of Minnesota. Booksales courtesy of The Red Balloon Bookstore.

For additional information contact Cathy Zemke at 612-625-7835 or zemke001@umn.edu, orDr. Lee Galda at galda001@umn.edu.

Yo! Yes? Chris Raschka, Scholastic, 1993